Decorating Tips + Pia Ulin Photography

I'm so impressed and feeling quite creative after reviewing my mile long list of "people to blog" because I have collected many amazing creatives out there that I can't wait to share with you over the next few weeks! I have to show you the work of Swedish photographer Pia Ulin today. And while I'm at it, I'm going to share some ideas from each collection I've pulled below with some of my own tips on decorating, styling and even some notes on relaxation. I think this is a nice Friday post... :)

Pia is based in Stockholm and is represented both in Sweden by Agent Bauer and in New York by Thomas/Treuhaft. I've had several editors contact the photographers that I've featured on decor8, so if you are from a magazine (or anyone else out there sourcing for a great photographer) Pia is a great one to consider. She has some gorgeous work on her website -- my favorites shown come mostly from her interiors portfolio though I managed to slide a few lifestyle shots in the mix to create a little more visual interest.

Try this at home: Pair two coffee tables from the same collection in two different sizes, collect lace doilies and with a little starch craft them into pretty bowls, place framed art on your kitchen counter, stack some magazines and top with a candle placed a little to the left (or right, just not dead center).

Try this at home: White dinnerware always works and as you can see above, you can change the palette of your dinner table quite easily since you don't need to work off of the patterns and colors of your china to create a theme. Why not have a few sets of dinnerware, one patterned or with color and another in fresh white? Why not? Also, add green to your home to give it some life - there are some beautiful plants out there that don't require a green thumb to maintain and look lovely placed in the right vessel.

Try this at home: Don't be afraid to display some of your prettiest dresses and smartest shirts in your bedroom. I always air dry my silk blouses by hanging them on the rod above my window and love how the patterns look in the room through the filtered light. If you have a few favorite pieces, photograph them in your bedroom and see if you can create some pretty photos for either your blog or personal collection of images. Lay a dress casually on a bed. Take a few dresses on hangers that look nicely together and layer them against a door. Hang a gorgeous dress in the window from the rod. This exercise can also help you to see what certain colors and patterns can do to a room, often a dress hanging on your closet door can wake you up to a stunning new palette for the bedroom. Oh and try to use linen, whenever possible, in your home. It breaths so well and drapes beautifully. On tables, as tea towels, on beds, curtains, shower curtains... and it's such a forgiving, durable fabric.

Try this at home: Remember when you were little and still in grade school and the teacher called a "time out"? That usually meant you were to put your head down on your desk and take about 10 minutes to nap, day dream... as long as the pencils were down and you were not talking. Sometimes, as adults, we need to take a time out during our work day. If you are at home working from your office there, get up and stretch, pour yourself some hot tea, sit on your porch, or simply put your head on your desk for 10 minutes and just chill out. Relaxation promotes creativity. If you want better, more authentic ideas you must take some time out moments each day. Why do you think the French are so creative? It's those lingering lunch breaks! Another tip, if you are showing a photo of your bathroom on your blog or in a magazine, fill it with bubbles and a plop a big sponge on the rim -- nothing more inviting that that!

Lots of these shots where stylist by Stella Nicolaisen, whom I've talked about before on decor8. I hope that you enjoy my picks today from Pia's magical portfolio and I hope that you'll visit her website to view many more gorgeous photos that are not shown here.